Bring your own device (BYOD) is a business model that’s been trending recently due to the convenience it offers your employees, but it also can leave you open to some serious security risks. If, for example, an employee’s personal device isn’t secure, that becomes a very attractive entry point for attackers to gain access to volatile corporate data. As such, it’s vital that you take steps to improve BYOD security, and here’s how:
BYOD Policy
The first step you can take in securing personal devices is to establish a clear policy. It should include guidelines for acceptable use of personal devices and some security measures like encryption, proper passwords, and data backups. It should also define what’s allowed to be accessed from personal devices and the consequences of policy violations.
MDM Software
Mobile device management (MDM) software allows companies to manage mobile device from one place. It provides managers and administrators control over the configuration, applications, and security settings for mobile devices. With an MDM software, administrators can easily establish company-wide security policies as well as remotely lock or erase data from compromised devices.
Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security measure which requires users to provide two forms of identification to login. This usually implies a typical password prompt as well as a code sent through email, text, or a third-party app. This way, the security of a device doesn’t depend on the strength of a user’s password, and it’s far more difficult for bad actors to gain access to both authentication factors to hack a company device.
Regular Security Training
Educating your employees on security practices is vital for any corporation, not just ones using BYOD. There are several risks associated with using personal devices that they need to be aware of, and companies should conduct regular security training sessions to help employees better understand their role in maintaining the security of corporate data.
Enforcing Compliance
Monitoring the use of personal devices to ensure compliance is also vital. This can be done through audits, security assessments, and other tools (with the help of an MDM) to detect unauthorized access attempts.
If you wish to explore BYOD, or any other method of employee convenience, it’s wise to be aware of the risks you may be incurring. If you want to learn more about how to enhance security going forward, need help choosing and implementing an MDM, or require a new 2FA solution, you should consider a visit to the expertIT contact us page.